King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.


Soldiers of the Regiment

Captain William Edward Corless

Captain William Edward Corless, formerly number 3712597, Company Quartermaster Sergeant with the 5th (Territorial Army) Battalion, King’s Own Royal Regiment.  Commissioned from the ranks, at Sandhurst from 21st September 1940. Lancaster's Second World War Mayor’s Fund Card Index shows him as 9th Battalion, King's Own and a home address of 57, Trafalgar Road, Lancaster.

Son of Albert Edward Corless, of the 5th King’s Own, First World War, uncles also served in King’s Own and Royal Artillery and grandfather, William Corless, served with the 3rd Battalion in the First World War.

From a newspaper cutting:
Promoted From the Ranks
Mr and Mrs Albert E Corless of 57 Trafalgar Road, Lancaster, have recently received the news that their only son, Lieutenant William Edward Corless has been promoted Captain.
Before the war he was a member of the office staff of James Williamson and Son Ltd, and volunteered with others when he joined the King’s Own Royal Regiment. He mobilised with the battalion on the outbreak of the war and proceeded with his unit to France with the rank of CQMS. He came safely through the Dunkirk evacuation and was then recommended for an OCTU course at Sandhurst. On completing this he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant being promoted to Lieutenant shortly afterwards.
 

The museum has a number of different acquisitions relating to Captain William Edward Corless:


Hand written list of Territorial Army Camps, 5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Regiment, 1947-1960 from Major Corless
Accession Number: KO2432/01


Letter to Major William Edward Corless re withdrawal of application. 7 Mar 1962
Accession Number: KO2432/02


Certificate showing that William Edward Corless was a member of 5 King’s Own
Accession Number: KO2432/03



Permanent Pass - OCTU Sandhurst, Officer Cadet William Edward Corless, 3712597 Dated 21 Sep 1940.
Accession Number: KO2432/04


Part of King’s Own Regimental Diary 1949 in the name of Captain William Edward Corless, 1949
Accession Number: KO2432/05


Army form E654 Territorial Army or Supplementary Reserve. Notice to Join for training in Camp. Private W E Corless, Number 3712597, 5th Battalion King’s Own Royal Regiment. 6 Aug 1939.
Accession Number: KO2652/01


Army form E518 Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Act, 1939. Territorial Army. Calling Out Notice. Private W E Corless, 3712597, 5th Battalion King’s Own Royal Regiment, 25 Aug 1939
Accession Number: KO2652/02


Certificate of passing of test of competence to drive, dated 31 May 1939 and stamped 24 May 1943 to William Edward Corless, 57 Trafalgar Road, Bowerham Lancaster. Number 02605
Accession Number: KO2652/03


Certificate of passing of test of competence to drive (Military Personnel), dated 4 Jul 1942 and stamped 24 May 1943 to 164402 Lieutenant William Edward Corless, 90th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery. Number A366970
Accession Number: KO2652/04


Receipt for two shillings paid for copies of driving test certificates, 24 May 1943.
Accession Number: KO2652/05


Memo re Relinquishment of Temporary Rank, Lieutenant W E Corless, regarding the rank of Temporary Captain. 29 Jun 1944, signed by Captain and Adjutant, 11th Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers
Accession Number: KO2652/06


Posting Instructions for Student Officers Royal Artillery Attached 166 Infantry OCTU on Transfer to the Infantry. Temporary Captain Corless, 24 Mar 1944 report to 2nd East Surrey Regiment. 19 Apr 1944.
Accession Number: KO2652/07


Letter dated 7 Apr 1944 informing Lieutenant W E Corless he is to proceed overseas for service in a Tropical Climate.
Accession Number: KO2652/08


Slip of paper issued by the Clothing and Repair Factory Officer Training Unit Cervinara, 9 Jun 1945 to Captain Corless.
Accession Number: KO2652/09


Notice of posting for Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) W E Corless, King’s Own, to No 40 Ordnance Paint Factory (RAOC) as Regimental Officer to fill an existing vacancy. Dated 28 May 1945.
Accession Number: KO2652/10


Certificate British Red Cross Officers’ Convalescent Home – Sorrento certifying that Lieutenant Corless as a patient from 27 Sep 1944 to 26 Oct 1944 and is now fit for duty.
Accession Number: KO2652/11


Medical statement Lieutenant W E Corless 16 Aug 1944, Duodenal Ulcer, 27 Sep 1944.
Accession Number: KO2652/12


Memo, Officers Posting Lieutenant W E Corless, 23 Oct 1944, to HQ 209 POW Camp.
Accession Number: KO2652/13


Posting notice for Lieutenant W E Corless from HQ 209 PW Camp to St. Martin’s Academy HQ IRTD as Admin Officer. 8 Dec 1944
Accession Number: KO2652/14


Memo from GHQ 2nd Echelon CMF to Commandant ‘X’ Officers Training Unit, 19 May 1945 re T/Captain W E Corless, KORR. Re-medical category.
Accession Number: KO2652/15


Memo Re 4 Clothing Repair Factory, 24 Jul 1945 regarding special diet for Captain Corless
Accession Number: KO2652/16


Memo Re 4 Clothing Repair Factory, 24 Jul 1945 regarding special diet for Captain Corless (contemporary copy)
Accession Number: KO2652/17


Memo Extra Rations in lieu of meat, tea, coffee, bacon or canned meet for Captain Corless, dated 12 Jul 1945.
Accession Number: KO2652/18


Handwritten memo re Extra Rations for Captain Corless, 12 Jul 1945
Accession Number: KO2652/19


Handwritten memo re Extra Rations for Captain Corless, 16 Jun 1945
Accession Number: KO2652/20


Handwritten memo re Extra Rations for Captain Corless, 31 Oct 1945
Accession Number: KO2652/21


Letter to Captain Corless from Major E M Jones, 7 Nov 1945, regarding transfer of No 4 Clothing Factory to 557 BOD
Accession Number: KO2652/22


Movement Order Number 821, 557 Base Ordnance Depot, Depot Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Including movement of Captain W E Corless KORR, dated 23 Nov 1945.
Accession Number: KO2652/23


Army Form x212 Release Certificate Emergency Commissioned Officers – Regular Army (Class A Release in UK). Temporary Captain W E Corless KORR. 8 Jan 1946
Accession Number: KO2652/24


Letter from the War Office to thank Captain W E Corless for his service in Second World War, dated 6 Feb 1946
Accession Number: KO2652/25


Memo from Army Pay Office to Major W E Corless, Lancaster 12 Mar 1946
Accession Number: KO2652/26


Letter from War Office 2 Jul 1946 re pay and promotion in World War Two
Accession Number: KO2652/27


Letter from War Office, 5 Oct 1946 regarding rank of Major and command pay.
Accession Number: KO2652/28


Letter from Army Pay Office, Manchester, to W E Corless, 2 Dec 1946 regarding Corps Pay.
Accession Number: KO2652/29


Letter from War Office, dated 9 Apr 1947, regarding acting rank whilst with Number 4 Clothing Factory.
Accession Number: KO2652/30


Letter from War Office, dated 11 Apr 1947, regarding a permanent commission for Captain W E Corless.
Accession Number: KO2652/31


Letter from G T E Keith regarding the statement of service sent by W E Corless to Keith dated 13 Dec 1947
Accession Number: KO2652/32


Letter dated 5 May 1952 from Vernon Royle to W E Corless re help and support whilst Colonel Royle was in command of 5th King’s Own.
Accession Number: KO2652/33


Memo from HQ 5th King’s Own to Major W E Corless regarding award of Territorial Decoration, 22 Apr 1953.
Accession Number: KO2652/34


Handwritten note detailing the service of WE Corless in 1939-1942 whilst serving with 90th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery
Accession Number: KO2652/35


Letter dated 25 Aug 1956 regarding keys for 57 Trafalgar Road addressed to Mr W E Corless, 10 Shrewsbury Drive, Bowerham, Lancaster
Accession Number: KO2652/36


Letter to W E Corless from the Vicar of Scotforth, dated 25 Apr 1957
Accession Number: KO2652/37


Letter dated 26 Mar 1959 regarding first clasp to Territorial Efficiency Decoration to Major W E Corless
Accession Number: KO2652/38


Note to W E Corless from Nigel Gribbon about letter opened in error.
Accession Number: KO2652/39


Letter dated 10 Apr 1959 regarding first clasp to Territorial Efficiency Decoration to Major W E Corless
Accession Number: KO2652/40


Note re mention in London Gazette Territorial Efficiency Decoration to Major W E Corless, 13 Apr 1959
Accession Number: KO2652/41


Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Nigel Gribbon to W E Corless dated 18 Jun 1959 concerning award of Lord Lieutenants Certificate
Accession Number: KO2652/42


Letter from Captain and Adjutant 5th King’s Own dated 1 Jul 1959 regarding Lieutenant Lieutenants Certificate
Accession Number: KO2652/43


Battalion Orders for 5th King’s Own, 6 Jul 1959, including Lord Lieutenants Certificate to Major W E Corless.
Accession Number: KO2652/44


Letter re Lord Lieutenants Certificate dated 23 Jul 1959 from Commanding Officer 5th King’s Own to Managing Director of Williamson & Son Ltd, Lancaster.
Accession Number: KO2652/45


Letter permitting Major W E Corless to extend his service dated 14 Aug 1959
Accession Number: KO2652/46


Letter permitting Major W E Corless to extend his service dated 3 Mar 1960
Accession Number: KO2652/47


Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Nigel Gribbon dated 10 Dec 1959 re extension of service until 20 Jun 1960 to cover annual Camp
Accession Number: KO2652/48


Letter from Army Medals Office dated 16 Nov 1960 regarding Number 18739 Sergeant J Corless, of 12th Coy Machine Gun Corps, former 6693 KORLR.
Accession Number: KO2652/49


Letter dated 16 Nov 1961 regarding exceeding age for military service in the Territorial Army.
Accession Number: KO2652/50


Letter from Lieutenant Colonel D B Long to Major W E Corless about appointment of Assistant County Cadet Commandant, 20 Nov 1961
Accession Number: KO2652/51


Letter from Brigadier Burke (Regimental Association) regarding a request to the Town Hall have ‘MM’ engraved after the name of Sergeant J Corless on the War Memorial, dated 15 Dec 1960 and reference to Third Volume of Regimental History by Julia Cowper.
Accession Number: KO2652/52


Letter to Brigadier Burke regarding Sergeant J Corless
Accession Number: KO2652/53a


Letter (page two) to Brigadier Burke regarding Sergeant J Corless
Accession Number: KO2652/53b


Official Instructions – Inspection Maintenance and care of B Vehicles 1945 based on the Task System, War Office, 1945
Accession Number: KO2652/54


‘Twice a Citizen’ 1908-1958 Golden Jubilee of the Territorial Army Souvenir
Accession Number: KO2652/55


Information and Application form the Dunkirk Veterans Association
Accession Number: KO2652/56


Beating of Retreat by the Band and Drums of The King’s Own Royal Regiment, Lancaster
Accession Number: KO2652/57


King’s Own Men at Annual Camp impress Brigadier, report of annual camp with Lieutenant Colonel Long and others pictured.
Accession Number: KO2652/58


 

 

 

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.

Only a proportion of our collections are on display at anyone time.  Certain items are on loan for display in other institutions.  An appointment is required to consult any of our collections which are held in store.

© 2016 Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum